CORE VALUES
Core
Value # 1: Everything is a Flow
Life is a flow. It's like a
video, where each instant is like a single still frame, except that this
video never pauses or stops.
It's in constant motion.
Often, we tend to zero-in
on things as if they were static and stay stuck inside that point in time. This
has a huge impact on your outlook on things, especially your positivity.
For example, let's take the
concepts of "success" and "failure" in the context of the
World Cup! In the last world cup Germany were the champions -- they
"succeeded". This time around (with mostly the same key players),
they were defeated in the very first round --- they "failed". Imagine
you could fast forward in time and they won again next time. They are suddenly
a "success" again. So is the German team a "success" or a
"failure"? If you define this based on a single point in time, you're
in for a roller coaster ride. How about if you define yourself this way?
Unfortunately, a lot of
people look at life through this static lens. And it doesn't only apply to
success/failure. It's why sometimes it seems so difficult to move on during low
points, or hang on to high points even though it's time to let go.
We show you how to apply
the Flow way of thinking throughout the course, from Motivation, to how to
Focus and even how to be Creative. You'll find concrete examples of how this
perspective can completely change your outlook and actions.
Unlike a fixed video, you
actually have a way to influence what happens next. What you do now, will
change what happens as the video keeps playing. So if the German team decides
to zero-in on this World Cup and let it define themselves as
"failures", they'd probably stay that way until the next time. But if
they see everything as a flow, then they might do something about it. Which
leads us to...
Core
Value # 2: Inputs vs. Outputs
We're a results oriented
society. We look at things that
have already happened and define ourselves and others by them. Just
look at social media, where everyone shares and compares their best sides, or
our schooling system where we focus so much on grades and test results.
But results are just that
--- they're outcomes, which don't come from nothing. Every output is a result
of lots of different inputs.
By focusing on the outputs, we're missing the point. If you want to have the
same output or outcome, there's no point in comparing! How about figuring out
what inputs were invested instead?
The problem with outputs is
that they've already happened and you can't change them. Outputs are not actionable. But
inputs, on the other hand, are.
We flip output-oriented
thinking around on its head. We zero-in on the inputs, and use outputs as indicators of
what inputs to invest in next.
By changing the focus, a lot of things you used to be stuck on will also
change. You might suddenly see new paths to take.
We're so used to focusing
on outputs by default that it takes practice to shift this perspective. In this
course, we constantly reinforce this core value, and help you to integrate it
into your life systematically.
So by simply following the methods we teach, you'll automatically be focusing
on the inputs. It will naturally become your own core value and a part of your
thinking!
Imagine how much more
positive your life would be if you can apply this to everything.
Core
Value # 3: Break Things Down
What stops you from
achieving things beyond what you believe you can do? More often than not, it's
when something seems insurmountable. A problem too big and complicated to
resolve. Or an objective that seems too big to process. Besides being focused
on outcomes, we're also kind of an impatient society nowadays too! Our society
is tuned into instant gratification.
But this is a major
limitation, because it makes you give up too soon and too easily on things. If
an easy way isn't available at first glance, we lose motivation to move
forward. To overcome this, the third core value we always apply is to break things down. Everything can be
broken down, if you know how. By breaking things down into bite-sized actions,
things don't seem so insurmountable anymore. Instead, each bite-sized action
you take builds momentum. This momentum is what helps you make breakthroughs.
Combining
them together
Combining these 3 core
values can be simple, while making a powerful difference. Let me give you a
day-to-day example that we always encounter at Lifehack.
Our writers and editors
always strive to write "good quality" articles. Articles that get
lots of positive feedback and communicate great concepts well. But using this
as a goal, how can you help someone to produce that? A "good quality
article" is just an outcome. It's got no obvious actions to take --
besides "do your best to write it".
So instead, we try to zero
in on the inputs instead.
By breaking it down into
actions we can invest in, which align to produce the outcome we want. We'd
start by figuring out what article inputs result
in a quality article output.
For example some inputs may
be,
- Condensing complicated concepts
into 3 key points
- Using at least one relatable
metaphor or visual as support
- Employing a short story to
introduce a daily life scenario
These are just a few
possible input actions we may invest in, which eventually become reusable
skills that we use for future articles. The more inputs we can think of to
invest, the higher the chance of "success".
In this case,
"success" would be positive feedback and engagement from as many
readers as we can reach. When we publish an article, it doesn't just end there.
We see it as a flow. So an
article may end up immediately doing well (or not), but we'll place the focus
on adding more inputs to improve it instead, deciding what to do based on the
latest results.
You can see how these 3
core values are not independent, but rather work together as a whole. This is
just one example of how you can create positive change in almost any area of
your life!
LIFEHACK
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